Foshan is the cradle of Cantonese Opera. Qionghua Hall, the earliest Cantonese Opera guild, and the early play show sites show the important role that Foshan played in the Cantonese Opera history.
In order to illustrate the origin and history of the Cantonese Opera, Foshan Museum displays its precious collection, including the censer and lamp bracket from¡® Qionghua Palace' in Daoguang Period of the Qing Dynasty, the 80 volumes of long wooden fish book entitled ¡® Prince Becomes a Monk' published by Foshan Jinwen Hall, ¡®Zhenlan News' (leaflet publication on troupes, organization and artists of Cantonese Opera in Qing Dynasty), ¡®Zhenlan Daily'(reporting the play world news on the GD-HK troupe and the artists published in 1949), ¡®Cantonese Opera Plays Compendium' by Doctor Liang Peijin collecting 11360 plays, script entitled¡® Meet on West River' by ¡®Wugui Hall' in Guangzhou in late Qing Dynasty, the sharp-edge gold-silver boa Guangdong Embroidery from 1920s to 1930s donated by Chinese Dramatic & Benev, the exquisite quintuple instrument donated by Hong Kong traditional vocal expert Lee Ruizu, the calligraphy painting by the late Cantonese Opera artist Xue Juexian with ¡®Delicacy' in running hand as the banner, and the folding fan with his cursive calligraphy with the painting entitled ¡®Peony' (by the famous Beijing Opera artist Mei Lanfang) on the back, totally over 200 precious matters. The exhibition demonstrates the history with substance, which shows the profundity of Foshan as the City of Culture.